Rajeev Ram’s Age-Defying Win Caps Off Cincinnati Open

Photo: Cincinnati Open

India-West News Desk

CINCINNATI, OH — Rajeev Ram, at 41, became the second-oldest men’s doubles champion in Cincinnati Open history after winning his maiden Masters 1000 title with partner Nikola Mektic. The unseeded pair completed a successful run by defeating the Italian team of Lorenzo Musetti and Lorenzo Sonego with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 10-5.

Ram, who was born in Colorado, is a former world No. 1 in men’s doubles. A six-time Grand Slam champion, he has also won two Olympic silver medals and 31 ATP doubles titles.

The title marks a significant achievement for Ram, who, at 41 years and four months, follows only Daniel Nestor as the oldest champion in the tournament’s Open Era. For Mektic, the victory is his 11th Masters 1000 crown, making him the active leader in men’s doubles. He also joined an exclusive group of players, alongside Rohan Bopanna and Mate Pavic, who have reached the final of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.

During the trophy ceremony, Mektic acknowledged their long-standing relationship. “This is our third tournament together, even though we’ve known each other for three decades, probably,” he said. Ram echoed his partner’s sentiment, stating, “It’s so nice to have him on my side of the net.”

The win marks the pair’s first trophy together in just their third event as a team, with their comeback victory fueled by winning 87 percent of their first serves. Following the win, they moved up 196 spots to No. 25 in the ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.

The duo is now set to compete in the US Open, where Ram has previously won three of his six career Grand Slam titles.

 (With IANS inputs)